Caprica: Planet Information and History

[Nicholas "Niko" Scott]

CAPRICA
*Information provided by:
"The Travelers Guide to the Twelve Colonies of Kobol"
by The Colonial Defense Forces

The Colony of Caprica has been the center of the twelve colonies civilization from the beginning of recorded time. The planet is a paradise for humanity and it is perfectly suited for habitation. Caprica Society is highly ordered and peaceful. Caprica is known for its philosophers, particularly of legal issues, morality and enlightened thought.

Caprica is also the fashion capital and trend setter of the Twelve Colonies, Fashion Week in Caprica City is a major Colonial event for the elite. Thanks to a pleasant environment, and a good government Caprica soon dominated the remaining Colonies in respect to the colonies economic and military technology, though it rarely attempted to dominate the other colonies.

Caprican morality, political views, and philosophy considered such rumors as heresy. *Caprican efforts to push the Articles of Colonization to the other colonies have not been accepted, and the ongoing negotiation has only made the situation worse. Current efforts to unify the Twelve Colonies remain but now as the Cylon threat worsens the current Coalition of Colonies set the example of a unified Twelve Worlds.

Caprica invested much time and effort into their “Crown Jewel” and Caprica City stands supreme amongst all Colonial Cities as the most beautiful, cultured and richest city with wide boulevards and shopping areas. The Caprican Government Building is a tourist attraction as much as it is the bureaucratic and political heart of the Colonies.

Caprica has highly developed universities and colleges, and has almost no equal in science, medicine and the arts and humanities, as well as other lesser areas of study. Caprican Medicine and biotechnology is particularly advanced, and in great demand by the other Colonies.

Geographical Features -

• Rasparta Mountains – Located near the city that shares the same name (Rasparta), the Rasparta Mountains host some of the best all year snow skiing in the Colonies. The mountains, ice blue and slathered in white from a distance, run the entire northern length of the Palisades Continent near the Caprian North Pole. Nor Fennis, located 80 miles north of Rasparta, is by far the largest of the many resort cities and towns that line the mountain chain and the area itself is pretended in a classic Kobol architecture that attracts millions of tourists annually. The mountains offer runs ranging from the smooth novice slopes to extreme courses that would make even the most adventurous skier quake in terror.
  
  
• Unicorn Falls – Situated in a formally volcanically active area on the southeastern continent of Midgar sits what remains of what was once a large volcanic that was passed on both sides by mighty Oberon River as it forked to flow around the mountain base and drop majestically in twin falls, far down a gorge on the other side of the mountain. Over the centuries the two forks of the Oberon have whittled down the mountain in an effort to merge the forks. After a time the forks are barely 50 meters apart and all that remains of the mountain is a tall Obsidian spire that the waters find difficult to erode. Many tourists and locals come to see the site and play in the cool waters at the base of the falls.

Landmarks –

• Caprican Government building – This massive multistory and multi-tier building covers 35 square acres of hilltop in the Northern commercial district of Caprica City and is the largest man made surface structure in the Colonies. Aside from the thousands that visit it each day for business reasons, millions visit it annually to take pictures and see the surrounding gardens and statues. It has become somewhat of a tourist stop of the Twelve Colonies including that of the President and many offices for the Judiciary and Courts as well.
  
  
• The Flats – Believed to have been a marsh that has long since dried up this plain near the beaches of Pilgrim Bay has become a tourist attraction due to the first fossilized human foot prints anywhere in the Colonies. A hermetically sealed observation room has been built around the area and tourists can view the footprints as they were found through the 3 inch safety glass in the comfort of a completely air conditioned tourist center. Plaster copies of the footprints along with other memorabilia are sold at the Souvenir Shop and proceeds go to the maintain the park and its adjacent educational and scientific facilities.

Important Dates on Caprica –

• Caprica 1st – Coinciding with the Founders Day celebrations, Caprica 1st is also the day of the Annual All Colonies Invitational Yacht Race, which takes place in the waters off of the City of Pilgrim Bay. Incidentally the city of Pilgrim Bay is named as such because it is believed that this is the site where the refugees or pilgrims from Kobol first landed on Caprica.
  
  
• Aquaria 15th – The Start of Caprica Fshion Week in Caprica City. This event is attended by the Who's who of Colonial Elite society and the media.
  
  
• Virgon 1st – Oracle Day as it is called. Just a date on the calendar to most other colonies but many travel to the city of Delphi where self proclaimed seers and mystics set up booths on the boulevard leading up to the Museum of Arts and Sciences at Delphi to predict the futures of passersby for a mere few cubits. The Event is based in part on religious tradition but has become more of a street festival and time for merriment on Caprica and specifically a big draw for tourists to Delphi.

Interesting Caprica Facts –

• Caprica is one of a few Colonies to have completely eradicated poverty amoung its people. *It is also the only colony that has virtually no homeless citizens due to the fact that the Caprican Government guarantees free work placement and public housing as well as education in all forms (Basic, and Higher education) for free of charge.

Notable Flora and Fauna Native to Caprica –

• Capricorn Blue – A Breed of horse native to Caprica known for its deep Gray to Blue coat is bred exclusively on Caprica and is highly sought after as recreational and racing mounts.
  
  
• Omega Rose – Much akin to a standard Rose bush but of the deepest Blood Red color, this Caprica native flower is said to be the symbol of ultimate love and affection. Sales on this pricey perennial reach their highest levels during the week and week preceding the Festival of Aphrodite.

Chief Imports – Military Goods, Food Stuffs, Luxury Items, Manufactured Materials

Chief Exports – Textiles, Art and Luxury Goods, Biomedical and Scientific Equipment, Electronics.

Political Climate – Caprica, Along with Picon, are seen by most as the “ruling” Leaders of the Twelve Colonies. Virgon though sways heavy favor with Caprica, as Virgon is practically the sole off-world supplier of Food Stuffs to Caprica. Capricans as a Whole have a general Distrust of Taurons and Saggittarons are looked upon as ill educated and far from equal.

Major Cities (populations in excess of 8,000,000)

• Caprica City – Planetary Capital City and home to many Military Installations as well as numerous landmark structures. - Population 22.9 Million
  
  
• Delphi City – Home of the Delphi Museum of Arts and Sciences – Population 20.1 Million
  
  
• Aurora - A Smaller, yet compact verion of Caprica City Aurora is home to many of Caprica's Movie Production Studios. Population 15.2 Million
  
  
• Minas – Home to the Caprica Design College – Population 19.8 Million
  
  
• Pilgrim Bay – Home to the Annual All Colony Yacht Race – Population 18.5 Million
  
  
• Athena – Considered the Musical Center of Caprica and Home to the Test Facility of the Newly created Coalition Military's Colonial Fleet Recruitment Center – Population 16.1 Million
  
  
• Mica City – Covers the largest acreage of any Caprican City and is the headquarters of the Ministry of Intelligence. - Population 18 Million
  
  
• Nor Fennis – Known mostly for its popular Ski resorts. - Population 9.9 Million
  
  
• Rasparta - The Fashion and Entertainment capitol of Caprica also home to the Ministry of Defense. - Population 7.9 Million
  
  
• Istar Atoll - Island mega-city connects to Pilgrim Bay by the largest suspension bridge in all the Colonies. - Population 8.7 Million
  
  
• Approximately 37 other cities have populations that range between 1 and 8 Million.

Weather – (All Global Adverages)

• Average Temperature – 76 Degrees
  
• Average Precipitation - 118 Inches
  
• Average Snow – 49 Inches
  
• Humidity – 22%